Combination ignition tester, spark intensifier, and grounding device



0. R. NORDGREN.

COMBIPMTION IGNITION TESTER, SPARK INTENSIFIER, AND GROUNDING DEV|CE.

' APPLICATION man JAN. 26, 1920.

ZLAfiQJ 11,80 mm m. 17, 11922.

E3- f zveizz aifx Patented Slot, 1?, i922 Fi t ll hll lll clE],

OSCAR R. NQRDGREN, OF WK ATERTONN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

Application filed January 26, 1920.

To all w ham it may concern Be it known that I, OsoAn R. NORDGREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVatertown, in the county of Codington and State of South Dakota, have invented a certain new and useful Combination Ignition Tester, Spark Intensifier, and Grounding Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, and, has for its object to provide a device for attachment to the center electrode of a spark plug which can be used to easily and readily, locate ignition, or valve trouble, intensify the spark, and, further, to ground the electric current to prevent the starting of the motor by unauthorized par ties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will be simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and highly efiicient for the purposes intended.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts described in the following specification and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters ofv reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being attached to the center electrode of a spark plug and shown in its open position.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the device shown in its closed, or grounded position.

Fig. 3, is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig, 4, is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5, is a view in perspective, of the two hinge members before being mounted upon and fixed to insulating members.

Fig. 6, is a plan view of one of the hinge members before it is bent into shape.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the second hinge member. 7

Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates a spark plug having the gland B, the center electrode C, the terminal nut D, the lock nut E, and the ground electrode F.

Seria1 No. 354,320.

In carrying out the aim of my invention, the device consists, briefly, of two co-acting members, a stationary member, and a movable, or hinge member.

The stationary member consists of an insulating member 1 having an opening 2 to receive a screw-threaded terminal post, or electrode 3 having a head 4 and a securing nut 5.

An electrical conducting member 6 is mounted upon the top face of insulating member 1 by means of a suitable tubular rivet 7 which passes through an opening 8 in the insulating member 1 and is clinched at both ends to hold the conductor 6 in position and thereby provide a metallic sleeve for the opening 8 through which the upper end of the center electrode C can pass, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The stationary member is held in a fixed position upon the center electrode by means of the nut D, of the center electrode, as shown.

The electrical conducting member 6 is preferably beveled on opposite sides, as at 9 to provide the pointed end 10. The electrical conducting member 6 is slit, as at 11 and 12 to provide a center tongue 13 and the arms 14; on each side of the tongue 13, as shown in Fig. 6. The tongue 13 is bent downwardly at a substantially right angle to the electrical conducting member 6, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, The two arms 14. are also bent downwardly at a suitable angle to the electrical conducting member 6 and their lower ends are bent rearwardly at a suitable angle to provide a lip 15 at the end of each arm 14:.

The movable, or hinged member consists of an electrical insulating member 16 provided with an opening 17. 18 indicates an electrical conducting member having an elongated opening 19. A suitable screwthreaded ground electrode 20 having a head 21 passes through the slotted opening 19 in the electrical conducting member 18 and the opening 17 of the insulator member 16. A securing nut 22 carried by the screw-threaded member 20 holds the insulator member 18 in its properly adjusted position upon the insulator member 16. The ground electrode 20 extends a suitable distance beyond the lower face of the insulator member 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The electrical conducting member 18 is provided with a pair of opposed transverse slots 23 which extend inwardly a suitable distance from each side edge of the electrical conducting plate 18 for the reception of the arms 14 of the electrical conducting member 6. The electrical conducting member 18, including the slots 23 thereof, extends beyond the inner edge of the insulator member 16. This arrangement permits the inner edge 24 of the electrical conductor member 18 to frictionally engage-the outerface of the tongue 18 of the electrical conducting member 6 and cause the resilient arms 14 to bind against one edge of the slots 23, as is manifest, to provide a simple frictional hinge joint be tween the two electrical conducting members capable of conducting an electric current to the screw-threaded ground electrode 20.

A suitable washer electrode 25 having an opening 26 is positioned between the head 1 of the screw-threaded terminal post 3 and the upper face of the insulating member 1. The screw-threaded terminal post 3 passes through the opening 26, of the washer electrode, and, owing to the fact that'opening 26 isgreater in diameter than the terminal post, it permits adjustment of the washer electrode to form the desired spark gap 27 between the pointed edge 10 ofthe electrical conducting member 6 and the peripheral edge of the washer electrode 25, as is manifest. The insulating member 1 is provided with a suitable spark-gap opening 28 which sipans the spark-gap 27, as clearly shown in The operation of the device is as follows:

l/Vhen the device is used for grounding the electric current, the lower end of the ground electrode 20, carried by the movable, or hinged member of the device, is brought into contact with the gland of the spark plug. When each spark plug of an engine is provided with one of these devices, and the ground electrode 20 of each is in contact with the gland of its respective spark plug, it will be impossible for an unauthorized party to start the engine without first raising the hood and raising all of the movable, or hinged members of the device thereby disconnecting the ground electrode from the plugs, as is manifest.

Nhen the movable, or hinged member of the device is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that the electric current will pass through the center electrode and cause a spark by jumping to the ground electrode of the spark plug.

If there is no spark jumping across the spark gap 27 of the device, you trace backdirectly to terminal in circuit on the distributer, or magneto, and see that it is making contact. If the spark is appearing irregular, it indicates that there is a worn, or defective cable coming in contact with some metallic 1 member, thereby causing the current to leak.

or short circuit, thus causing the misfire in the engine cylinder. If there is no spark at all jumping the spark gap 27, of the'device,

it indicates that the battery is exhausted, and if the spark is weak, it indicates that the battery is getting low.

To determine whether the spark plugs are faulty, press down all but one of the mov able, or hinged members, thus grounding the electric current to each spark plug, excepting to the one located on the cylinder to be tested. If the spark plug is not faulty, or defective the motor will hit on the one cylinder. If the plug is defective, the motor will stop running immediately and the trouble can be easily found by removing and examining the plug. 1 v 7 In this way each plug vto each cylinder can be tested individually, in a positive manner and under actual working conditions, as is manifest.

If it is an exhaustvalve that is stuck or leaking, instead of the motor stopping as in the case with a faulty plug, a loud explosion will occur in the muffler, but with the intake valve faulty, the explosion will back-fire into the intake manifold leading from the carbureter.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that the device is practical for testing ignition systems, grounding the spark to each engine cylinder and intensifying the spark and can be successfully used in connection with the engines of automobiles of all types, farm tractors, motor-boats, aeroplanes for locating instantly misfiring, short circuits, faulty terminals and electrodes, defective intake and exhaust valves and ren ders carbureter adjustments more certain.

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest them selves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising a pair of insulated electrical conducting members hingedly united so that one of the electrical conducting members can be moved in an arcuate path, a terminal electrode adjacent one of the insulated electricalconducting members to formv an adjustable spark gap therebetween, one of said insulated electrical conducting members having an opening to receive the center electrode oil a spark plug, and a ground electrode removably connected with the movable electrical conducting member for contact with the easing of a spark plug when it is desired. to ground the electric current.

2. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising an insulated terminal electrode, an insulated electrical conducting member arranged adjacent the terminal electrode to establish a spark gap therebetween, said insulated electrical conducting member having an opening to receive the center electrode of spark plug, an insulated elect 'ieal conducting member hingedly connected with said first mentioned electrical conducting member, and a ground electrode having connection with said hingedly connected electrical conducting member for contact with the casing of the spark plug when it is desired to ground the electric current.

3. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising two hingedly and frictionally united electrical. conducting members, an insulating member for each of said members, one of said insulating members having a spark gap opening, a lead electrode removably fixed to the insulating member provided with the spark gap opening adjacent one edge of the electrical conducting member fixed thereto to form a spark gap; therebetween, and a ground electrode having connection with the movable electrical conducting member for contact with the casing of a spark plug when it is desired to ground the electric current.

4. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising two electrical conducting members hingedly and frictionally united, an insulating member having an opening, a tubular rivet pass ing through one of said electrical conducting members and the opening of said insulating member for fixedly uniting the two members, a terminal electrode removably secured to one end of said insulating member, a washer electrode retained in its adjusted position by the terminal electrode for forming a spark gap between one end of the electrical conducting member fixed to said insulating member and the peripheral edge of the washer electrode, said insulating memher having a spark gap opening between the washer electrode andone edge of the electrical conducting plate, an insulating member for the other electrical conducting member, said lastmentioned electrical conducting member being capable of movement in an arcuate path and adjustably mounted upon said insulating member, and a ground electrode having connection with said electrical conducting member to permit groundminal ing of: the electric current when the ground electrode is moved. into cont-act with thecasing ot a spark plug.

5. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier ant groun n device, coniprising two hiugedlv united electrical conducting members, one oi. said. members being stationary and provided with. an opening to receive the center electrode of a spark plug, an insulating base for each of said electrical conducting members, an adjustable electrode arranged adjacent one edge of said stationary electrical. conducting member to term a spark gap therebetween, the insulating base therefor having a spark gap opening, means or adjustably mounting the other electrical conducting member on an insulating base, and a ground elecirode removablv connected with said electrical conducting member to ground the electric circuit when the ground electrode is moved into contact with the casing of a spark plug.

6. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising an insulated electrical conducting memher having an opening to receive the central electrode of a spark plug, an insulated terelectrode positioned adjacent one edge oi the insulated electrical conducting member to form a spark gap therebetween, an insulated electrical conducting member hingedly connected with said first mentioned insulated electrical conducting member, a ground electrode having connection with said hingedlv connected electrical insulating member, said hingedly connected insulating member being capable of movement in an arcuate path and means capable of holding the ground electrode in contact with the casing of the spark plug when it is desired to ground the current and to hold the ground. electrode in an elevated. position when it is not desired to ground the current.

7. A combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, comprising an insulating member provided with a spark gap opening, an electrical conducting member fixed to said insulating member and having an opening to receive the center electrode of a spark plug, a terminal removably secured to said insulating member adjacent the spark gap opening and one edge of the electrical conducting member fixed thereto, a washer electrode positioned adjacent one edge of the electrical conducting member fixed to said insulating member to form a spark gap therebetween. said electrical conducting member having a downwardly extending resilient tongue, downwardl extending resilient arms arranged on opposite sides of said tongue, the lower end of each of said arms being provided with a rearwardly extending lip, a second insulating member, an electrical conducting member having a slotted opening adjustably mounted on said insulating member, means for hingedly connecting said electrical conducting member between the resilient tongue and arms of the first mentioned electrical conducting member, and a ground electrode having connection with said latter electrical conducting member, said ground with the casing of a spark plug when it is desired to ground the current and to be raised free of contact with the casing of the spark plug when it is not desired to ground the electric current.

8. A'combination ignition tester, spark intensifier and grounding device, a station ary insulating member adapted to be removably fixed to the center electrode of a spark plug, a movable insulating member, electrical conducting means fixed to said stationary member, electrical conducting means fixed to said movable member, means for hingedly connecting said electrical conducting means, a ground electrode having connection with the electrical conducting means of said movable insulating member to engage the gland of the spark plug to ground the same when the movable member is in its lowermost position, an electrical conductor terminal removably fixed to said stationary member, a washer electrode retained in an adjusted position adjacent one end of the electrical conductor fixed to-the stationary member, and said stationary member having a gap opening between the washer and the electrical conductor fixed to the stationary member to establish a spark gap. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

OSCAR R. NORDGREN. 

